Romance of Wine - featuring our 2016 Albariño

The Art of the Stay-at-Home Date Night

We all suffer from time traps that can suck the romance out of a relationship. Deadlines, hectic work schedules, and house chores, sometimes make connecting with your partner may seem like a luxury. We feel ya. Fortunately, we are in the business of creating one of the best ingredients for date night — wine!  

There is no need to add the extra complications of getting ready to go out on a date to have a romantic evening. Arrange a Stay-at-Home Date Night instead. Relish each other’s company (and your comfortable home), by creating a dreamy oasis in your kitchen. Pop a great bottle of wine and be adventurous. Do something you haven’t done before: make sushi.

This Japanese art may seem daunting at first, but you only need a few simple ingredients, including a sushi roller and dried seaweed sheets (both of which you can purchase at most grocery stores). Here is your recipe to hold hands, sip a glass of wine, and be present with your significant other.  

Purchase our 2016 Albariño

First, you’ll make the rice:

Ingredients  (will make 9 rolls)

3 cups of sushi rice
3.5 cups of water
0.5 cup of rice vinegar
2 Tablespoon white sugar
2 Teaspoon fine salt

Instructions

For the seasoning, heat rice vinegar with sugar and salt in a stove pot or microwave. Mix until fully dissolved.
Cook 3 cups of sushi rice with 3.5 cups of water in a thick bottom pot (or rice cooker).
Once ready, transfer rice to wooden or plastic container. Do not cover.
Pour seasoning evenly over rice and mix with wooden spoon in a cutting motion.
Let rice cool down to room temperature by the window or using a fan, but never in the refrigerator.

This site will give you infographic instruction on how to roll and what to put inside your rolls: http://dish.allrecipes.com/how-to-make-sushi-rolls/

Tips for Buying Quality Fish for Sushi

• Shop at a reputable market.
• High quality grocery chains like Central Market and Whole Foods have strong quality control.
• Local seafood shops like Quality Seafood in Austin, Groomer’s Seafood in San Antonio, and Wahoo's Seafood Co. in Kerrville are good bets.
• Choose previously frozen fish. Freezing fish kills any potential parasites.
• Keep your fish cold. After buying the fish, make sure it stays well refrigerated until you serve it to ensure its safety.
• Check out that body. When buying whole fish, inspect the eyes to make sure they are nice and clear. Open the gills and look for bright red gills and avoid pale pink gills. Assess the texture buy holding it up to make sure it isn’t too rigid.

The Wine Pairing

Of course, you’ll need a wine pairing to complete the evening, and we say: choose Texas! Our 2016 Albariño is a perfect accompaniment to sushi. Albariño (alba-reen-yo) is known as the seafood lovers’ wine. It’s a light-bodied white wine with origins in coastal Spain and Portugal. It’s great with fish – and particularly sushi – because it has perky citrus flavors with high acidity.

This wine is crisp, yet brief barrel aging imparts a roundness and complexity. With notes of citrus zest, fresh green apple, and juicy mango, the Albariño will shine with this fresh dish, especially if you decide to add more crisp elements like sliced fruit or cucumber.

With the right recipe for a stay at home date, we hope that you relish your relationship over a glass of wine and a fun new activity. Like wine, your love should be a cause for celebration no matter the location.